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HLS 26RS-4817 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE STUDY REQUEST NO. 2
BY REPRESENTATIVE COATES
COMMITTEE STUDIES: Requests the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture and Rural Development to study the land application of biosolids and
other human waste-derived materials in agricultural lands in Louisiana
1 A STUDY REQUEST
2 To request the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural
3 Development to study the land application of biosolids and other human waste-
4 derived materials in Louisiana and to report its findings to the House of
5 Representatives no later than February 1, 2027.
6 WHEREAS, biosolids derived from residential and municipal wastewater treatments
7 are currently permitted for land application in Louisiana under regulations administered by
8 the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality; and
9 WHEREAS, such land application is utilized as a fertilizer or soil amendment on
10 agricultural lands within the state; and
11 WHEREAS, federal regulations governing biosolids under 40 CFR Part 503 establish
12 standards for pathogens and certain pollutants but do not currently establish regulatory limits
13 for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or other emerging contaminants; and
14 WHEREAS, PFAS are a class of long-lasting chemicals that have been used in
15 industry and consumer products for decades and break down very slowly over time; and
16 WHEREAS, scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the
17 environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals; and
18 WHEREAS, scientific understanding of PFAS and other emerging contaminants,
19 including their persistence in soil, potential for groundwater migration, and uptake in
20 livestock and crops, is evolving; and
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HLS 26RS-4817 ORIGINAL
HSR NO. 2
1 WHEREAS, agricultural producers, including cattlemen, have expressed concerns
2 regarding potential long-term impacts of land-applied biosolids on soil quality, livestock
3 health, market access, and agricultural land value; and
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has indicated that
5 no federal standards currently exist for PFAS in biosolids and that additional study may be
6 necessary to determine appropriate regulatory approaches for Louisiana soils and conditions;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the state to ensure that land application practices
9 are conducted in a manner that protects public health, agricultural production, and property
10 interests while maintaining regulatory clarity and fairness for all stakeholders.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
12 Legislature of Louisiana requests the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
13 Aquaculture, and Rural Development to study the land application of biosolids and other
14 human waste-derived materials in Louisiana and to provide a written report detailing its
15 findings to the House of Representatives no later than February 1, 2027.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the Legislature
17 of Louisiana further requests the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture,
18 and Rural Development to evaluate the following:
19 (1) Current permitting and regulatory practices for land application of biosolids in
20 Louisiana.
21 (2) The extent to which biosolids are applied to agricultural lands and proximity to
22 livestock operations.
23 (3) The presence, if any, of PFAS or other emerging contaminants in biosolids
24 applied within the state.
25 (4) Available testing methodologies, including EPA Method 1633A or other
26 approved methods, and associated costs and feasibility.
27 (5) Potential pathways of exposure to livestock, crops, soil, and groundwater.
28 (6) Practices in other states related to biosolids management and emerging
29 contaminants.
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HLS 26RS-4817 ORIGINAL
HSR NO. 2
1 (7) Options for improving transparency, including disclosure or notification to
2 landowners and agricultural producers.
3 (8) The potential need for statutory or regulatory changes to protect agricultural land
4 and markets.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
6 Aquaculture, and Rural Development committee members may request data, technical
7 assistance, and cooperation from any state agency, university, or stakeholder necessary to
8 carry out its duties.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this study request shall be transmitted
10 to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the commissioner
11 of agriculture and forestry, the director of the LSU AgCenter, the House Committee on
12 Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development and the House Committee on
13 Natural Resources and Environment.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HSR 2 Original 2026 Regular Session Coates
Requests the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural
Development to study the land application of biosolids and other human waste-derived
materials in agricultural lands in La. and requires the committee to provide a written report
detailing its findings to the House of Representatives on or before Feb. 1, 2027.
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